DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0171
LIFE OF LORD CAMELFORD.
147
custom-house, where, on being asked his name, he re-
plied, “ Camelford.” Those, however, who held him in
custody, were totally ignorant of the rank of their pri-
soner, nor did they know who he was till their arrival
with him at the Secretary of State’s office in London.
When taken, they found on him a brace of pistols, a two-
edged dagger, about eight inches in length, and rather
curved : there was likewise in his pocket a letter in French,
addressed to some person at Paris.
On Saturday the 19th of January, about eleven at
night, he was put into a post chaise, and the next morn-
ing was escorted by Mr. Newport, and the two Adamses,
whose boat he had hired, to the Duke of Port-
land’s Office, where he was recognized. A privy coun-
cil was immediately summoned, and Mr. Pitt dis-
patched a messenger to Lord Grenville, who was at
Dropmore, requesting him to come instantly to town.
The privy council met about six, and examined Mr.
Newport the collector, and the two boatmen. At ten,
Lord Grenville arrived in town, and had a long confe-
rence with Mr. Pitt, but did not see Lord Camelford,
who was committed to the custody of Johnson, a king’s
messenger.
His Lordship, after several examinations, was dis-
charged from custody; the lords of the council being
fully satisfied that his intentions were such only as he
had represented, and that he had been influenced by no
other motive, than the wish to render a service to his
country. His Majesty’s pardon was issued under the
great seal, to discharge his Lordship from the penalties
of the act, passed during the preceding session, which
without reference to motives, made the mere act of em-
barking for France a capital crime.
It was not long after this extraordinary whim, that his
lordship again pushed himself into public notice, though
u 2 in
147
custom-house, where, on being asked his name, he re-
plied, “ Camelford.” Those, however, who held him in
custody, were totally ignorant of the rank of their pri-
soner, nor did they know who he was till their arrival
with him at the Secretary of State’s office in London.
When taken, they found on him a brace of pistols, a two-
edged dagger, about eight inches in length, and rather
curved : there was likewise in his pocket a letter in French,
addressed to some person at Paris.
On Saturday the 19th of January, about eleven at
night, he was put into a post chaise, and the next morn-
ing was escorted by Mr. Newport, and the two Adamses,
whose boat he had hired, to the Duke of Port-
land’s Office, where he was recognized. A privy coun-
cil was immediately summoned, and Mr. Pitt dis-
patched a messenger to Lord Grenville, who was at
Dropmore, requesting him to come instantly to town.
The privy council met about six, and examined Mr.
Newport the collector, and the two boatmen. At ten,
Lord Grenville arrived in town, and had a long confe-
rence with Mr. Pitt, but did not see Lord Camelford,
who was committed to the custody of Johnson, a king’s
messenger.
His Lordship, after several examinations, was dis-
charged from custody; the lords of the council being
fully satisfied that his intentions were such only as he
had represented, and that he had been influenced by no
other motive, than the wish to render a service to his
country. His Majesty’s pardon was issued under the
great seal, to discharge his Lordship from the penalties
of the act, passed during the preceding session, which
without reference to motives, made the mere act of em-
barking for France a capital crime.
It was not long after this extraordinary whim, that his
lordship again pushed himself into public notice, though
u 2 in